Crooked PATHES Made STRAIGHT OR The wayes of God made knowne to lost Sinners or bewildered SAINTS Wherein is represented the severall conditions of a Christian in the Spirit as hee growes up out of weaknesse into strength through death into life eternall By ANNE YEMANS Isa 40.3 The voyce of him that cryeth in the wildernesse prepare ye the way of the Lord make straight in the desart a high way for our God LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the black-spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1648. To the READER Gentle Reader I Have done mine endeavour to set forth unto you in some measure the bondage that we have been in by sin the Devill and false Teachers what wounds wee have received by them and all hath been because we have not been able to discerne the difference between the wayes of God and Anti-christ And the more wee strive struggle in our own strength the more we are wounded while Jesus Christ doth appeare to us to reveal some light of himselfe to us and hee is that Son of righteousnesse that will appeare to us with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 He will reveal his love to us and heale up all our wounds and lead us in the way that we should walke taking us by the hand and leading us gently as we are able to goe and drawing us with the cords of love Most of the children of God have been in this spiritual bondage and those that have been in it and are brought out of it doth know in some measure how to comfort them that are in it and the Lord doth make us many times instrumentall under himselfe for th comfort and edifying one of another but it is Gol that doth make known all things to us whether it be by meanes or without and we ought to give him all the honour it is very dangerous to idolize the meanes neither ought we to slight it thougo it be by never so mean a person For out of the mouth of babes will hee be praised And let not us undervalue any thing that is of God whosoever it be spoken by for God is no respecter of persons I beseech you beloved let not this my labour seeme odious to you nor causâ— you to slight iâ— because it is written by a weak woman nor for you to harbour any strange thoughts of me for the writing of it for I have my self gonâ— through much spirituall bondage in severall wayes and finding many severall turnes and windings of Satan how cunning hee is in all his wayes anâ— transforming himselfe to an Angel of light labours our destruction in all things And the Lord having brought mee out of that bondage into thaâ— spirituall freedome which is in Christ for all thâ— Saints and I seeing many that are yet in spiritâ—â— all bondage and knows not what freedome there 〈◊〉 in Christ for them it doth cause my bowels of affection to yern to them Yet I should not presume 〈◊〉 set forth this in writing but that I have beene exceedingly moved by the Spirit of God to doe iâ— that I could not be quiet till I had begun it I haâ—â— done what I could before I did begin to doe it to pâ—â— those thoughts out of my mind bringing as many objections against it as I could but still the Spirit of God moved me more and more with motives to stirre mee up to doe it and many promises for the enabling of me to doe it knocking all the objections in pieces that came against it and this was one thing that was laid before me When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren And if thou lovest me feed my Lambs Ioh. 21.15 And another was I am no respecter of persons And also if we are the children of God we must be led by the Spirit of God to doe what hee would have us but after I saw it was of God I durst not refuse to doe it for obedience is better than sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 For I plainly see how dearly God loveth all man-kind but especially his children and those that are babes in Christ how great his love to them is yea even those that Christ is but newly conceived in If there be but a desiring really after God though there be yet no enjoyment of God hee will not quench smoaking flâ—xe and his love is as great to those that are the lowest and weakest Saints as to those that are the highest and strongest onely hee makes his love knowne more to them than to those that are yet weake and his making his love known to us causeth us to grow strong in him We all were weake at the first but be strengthens us by degrees as he revealeth himselfe to us more and more and so be will doe to you and when hee doth reveale any thing to any it is not only for them bit that they should declare iâ— unto others that tâ—ey may know what love Goâ— hath toward them that our weake brethren maâ— he strengthned and the lambs of God whicâ— are the young children of God may be fed 〈◊〉 and the doing of this aright is exceeding pleasinâ— to God Here is one signe of our love to God anâ— after wee have found our Beloved all our desire should be that we should be led wholly by the Spirit of God to glorifie him and setting forth hiâ— praise and not to fear the scandals reproaches oâ— the world which are like thornes springing uâ— by the Devill labouring to choake the purâ— truth of Christ but I passe not what scandals oâ— reproaches I meete with all by this booke settinâ— forth for truth doth always finde some great enemies and the more because it is written by a woman for there are some always that doe respect thâ— persons of people having mens persons in admiration Jude 16. My brethren have not thâ— faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glâ—ry with respect of persons Ja. 2.1 And 〈◊〉 shall come to pass in the last days saith Godâ— I will pour of my spirit upon all fish you sons your daughters shal prophesie you young men shall see visiions and your old me shall dream dreams and on my servant an on my hand-maidens I will pour out in thoâ— days of my spirit they shall prophesie Joel 2.28 Act. 2.17 18. When the children of Israel murmured for flesh to eate and Moses was not able to bear it the Lord bid him gather seventy men of the Elders of the people and the Lord toook off â—he spirit that was upon Moses and put upon them and when the spirit rested upon them then they prophesied and did not cease and there was two â—f that seventy that went not out of the Host and they also prophesied Then there ran a young man and told Moses and said Eldad and Medad doe prophesie in the host And there was one answered and said My Lord Moses forbid them but Moses said unto him Enviest thou for my sake Yea would
to God that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them Num. 11. Here is the spirit taken off of Moses which was a type of Christ and then â—hey prophesied ceased not Truly friends when the Lord doth put that Spirit of Christ upon us then we shall speak forth the things of God for we cannot but speake the things that we have seen and â—eard and enjoyed and let none be found to desâ—ise the things of God I have here set forth to you the way of God as plain as I am able shewing you the subtilty of the Devil in all his ways and how like the ways of God many of his ways are but the Spirit of God in us doeh discern the difference and â—e will reveal himself in us by degrees that as wee are Saints we shall see know enjoy him whom our soul loveth and waite with patience while heâ— doth manifest himself to you And I beseech you read this over with patience and the Lord give you understanding I have shown you the bondage that we have been led in in the first place and then in the next place what Christ hath done for all how he is offered to all And in the third place what hee hath done for his Children and what they are in him to him and ye may see what difference there is between being led on in a legall way and being led by the Spirit of God I have beginn in the lowest way as I could shewing you by degrees the mysteries of God for your better understanding And if there be any thing in it that seemes to you not to be truth yet despise it not before you know whether it be or no Neither would I have you embrace for a truth while it is made cleare to you to be a truth but waite upon God for him to reveale his mind to you and if the Lord be pleased to crowne my labour by his Spirit working with it upon any of you it will be my joy for God to be glorified and for you to be benefited The which I shall heartilâ— pray for and remaine Yours in the Lord. Anne Yemans Crooked paths made STRAIGHT OR The wayes of God made knowne to the weakest SAINTS CHAP. I. The poore soule lying under the burthen of sin is wishing to be eased WHen the Lord comes and manifests himself to us that he hath sowed the seeds of himselfe in us which is the good seed spoken of in Mat. 13.3 Then immediately the Tares appeare which is sin and wickednesse then there is a crying out Men and Brethren what shall we doe Acts 3.38 and 19. 16. Master what good thing shall I doe thâ—â— I may have eternall life but while we are thinking of doing something for eternall life theâ— comes Sathans enditements against us anâ— layes our sins before us and tels us what Rebels we have been against the King of Heaven and hee brings the condemning power of thâ— Law before them Cursed is every one that dotâ— not all things that is written in the Booke Anâ— also in Deut. 28.12 And it shall come to passâ—â— if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voyce 〈◊〉 the Lord thy God to observe and doe all his Commandements which I command thee this day thaâ— the Lord thy God will set thee on high above a 〈◊〉 Nations on the Earth And all these blessing shall come on thee and overtake thee if thoâ— shalt hearken unto the voyce of the Lord thâ— God Blessed shalt thou be in the City and blessed in the field c. But thou finding that thoâ— hast not done it then the the 15. and 1â— verses of this Chapter and so along But 〈◊〉 shall come to passe if thou wilt not hearken untâ— the voyce of the Lord thy God to observe to doe aâ— his Commandements that all these curses comâ— upon thee and overtake thee Cursed shalt thâ— be in the City and cursed shalt thou be in tâ—â— field And so going along threatning cursâ— for thy disobedience and all places of Scripture that is sutable to this is laid before thee and then thou being sore perplext to thinke how thou hast walked contrary to the minde of God and that he is angry with thee for thy sinnes and all the curses of God belong unto thee and hell and damnation gapes for thee then thou bethinkst thy selfe of the gracious call of Christ Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Then thou bethinkest thy selfe to goe to the Lord by repentance that so thou maist have rest then these places of Scripture sets thee on repentance Ezek. 18.21 But if the wicked will returne from all his sinnes that hee hath committed and keepe all my statutes and do that which is lawfull and right he shall surely live he shall not dye And vers 30. Repent and turne your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine and vers 31. to the end of the chapter Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby you have transgressed mee and make you a new heart and a new spirit For why will you dye O house of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God wherefore turne your selves and live ye And Jer. â— 12 Returne thou backe-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon â—ou for I am mercifull saith the Lord and I will not keepe anger for ever And Jer. 4.1 If â—hou wilt returne O Israel saith the Lord return unto me and if thou wilt put away thy abhominations out of my sight then shalt thou not remove And vers 14. O Jerusalem wash thy heart froâ— wickednesse that thou maist be saved how long shall thy vaine thoughts lodge within thee Hos 14.10 O Israel returne unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity And theâ— he saith vers 4. I will heale their back-sliding I will love them truly for my anger is turned awâ—â— from them Prov. 1.23 Turne you at my reproof Behold I will poure out my Spirit unto you I wilâ— make knowne my words unto you Isa 1.16.13 Wash you make you cleane put away the evill 〈◊〉 your doings from before my eyes Cease to doe evill learne to doe well seeke judgement relieve thâ— oppressed judge the fatherlesse plead for the widdom So here you see there is a repentance calleâ— for not only a repenting for the sins that iâ— past but a returning from thy evill wayes and doing that is pleasing in his sight Anâ— vâ—rs 18. Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord when thou hast done this aâ—â—ghâ— then there is free passage for thee to goe to thâ— Lord and hee will reason with thee Thouhâ— youâ— sinnes bee as scarlet they shall be as white 〈◊〉 snow though they be red like crimson they shall 〈◊〉 as wool If
it up againe this Commandement have I received of my Father So now the time of his suffering being come hee was willing to lay downe his life for poore miserable fallen man-kinde he being nail'd upon the Crosse hee endured sore paines in his body and much more in his minde for the whole wrath of God lay upon him for all our sins for he was wounded for our transgressions both spirituall and temporall A man may bear the infirmities of his body but a wounded spirit who can beare They that hâ—â—â— beene wounded in spirit can tell that it i◠〈◊〉 very sore thing and heavy to be borne Hâ—â— much more sorer and heavier was it upâ—â— Christ when he was wounded for all the fâ—â— of all man-kinde it made him to cry out 〈◊〉 God my God why hast thou forsaken me Mar. 1â— 34. Is it nothing to you all ye that passe by 〈◊〉 hold and see if there be any sorrow like my sorrâ—â— which is done unto me wherewith the Lord hâ—â— afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger Lam. 〈◊〉 12. There was never affliction like this thâ—â— was done unto Christ his love was so grâ—â— to man-kind that there was not any thing tâ—â— deare to him but he was willing to for-go◠〈◊〉 for their sakes he shedde his heart-blood fâ—â— their sakes our sins could not be pardoneâ—â— without his blood being shed for withoâ—â— blood-shedding there is no remission Heb. 〈◊〉 12. And it is not possible that the blood â—â—buls and goats should take away sins wheâ—â—fore when hee commeth into the world hâ— saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt offâ—rings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleâ—sure Then said I loe I come to doe thy will 〈◊〉 God By the which will wee are sanctifâ—â—â— through the offering of the body of Christ Jesâ—â— once for all Heb. 10.4 5 6 7. It was not tâ—â— sacrifice of beasts that could take away sin or make satisfaction to God therefore he prepaâ—ed Christ a bodie and he was the only saâ—rifice that could and did make full satisfactiâ—n to God for the sins of the whole world 1 â—et 2.24 Who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in â—is owne bodie on the tree that we being dead to â—â—nne should live unto righteousnesse by whose â—â—ipeâ— ye were healed Titus 2.14 Who gave himâ—â—lfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniâ—â—ity and purifie unto himselfe a peculiar people â—â—â—alous of good workes Col. 1.14 In whom wee â—ave redemption through his blood even the forâ—â—venesse of sins Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed â—â—s from the curse of the Law being made a curse â—or us For it is written cursed is every one that â—angeth on a tree So Christ was made perfect â—or us through suffering John 19.28 After â—â—is Jesus knowing that all things were now acâ—omplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled â—nd vers 30. He said it is finished and he howâ—â— his head and gave up the ghost I have now shewed you that the Father hath â—â—id all our sinnes upon Christ and hee hath â—ade full satisfaction to the Father for them All our sins being laid upon Christ they are â—ecome his they are not ours but his For â—e hath made him to be sin for us that knew no sin â—hat we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5.21 And Christ redeemed us frâ—â— the curse of the law being made a curse for 〈◊〉 How was Christ made sin and a curse for 〈◊〉 If a man be bound to pay another mans deâ—â—â—â— he is become the debter and if the Creditoâ—â— follows the Law of him he must pay the debâ—â—â—â— and he paying the debt the other that owâ— the debt is freed there is nothing to be doâ—â—â— against him because the other hath satisfiâ—â— the Creditour So our sinnes being laid upon Christ anâ— he undertaking to pay a full satisfaction to 〈◊〉 Father for them he is become the debter oâ— sins are his and his Father lookes upon hâ—â— as the sinner not that himself had sinned 〈◊〉 bearing our sinnes and as he became the siâ—ner for us so hee became a curse for us Fâ—â— the Law saith Cursed is every one that continâ—eth not in all things which are written in the bâ—â—â— of the Law to doe them Gal. 3.10 So God hath required this debt of Christ 〈◊〉 be paid by him to the utmost farthing and 〈◊〉 hath done it for us there is nothing to bâ— done for the salvation of our soules but all 〈◊〉 done already for us by the sufferings of Chriâ—â— and God is fully satisfied and well pleasâ—â— This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleâ—sed Mat. 3.17 And he is as well pleased wiâ—â— us in his Sonne as he is with his Sonne aâ—â— he hath no more to say against us for our sins than hee hath against his Son And God doth â—ove us with the same love that he hath loved Christ withall John 17.23 CHAP. V. Now Christ is offered freely to all man-kind without any price or worthinesse of their owne GOd was pleased to make Christ a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world to reconcile â—he world unto himselfe not imputing their sinnes â—â—to them 2 Cor. 5.19 And God would have â—â—e world to know what Christ hath done for â—â—em he would not have his love and mercy â—nd great goodnesse to be hid from them but 〈◊〉 be made known to them that poore souls â—â—at are wounded with sinne may looke upon â—hrist that was crucified for their sinnes and 〈◊〉 him see God as well pleased with them as 〈◊〉 is with Christ There is nothing now to â—nder Gods love to us he loves us freely I â—ll heale their rebellions I will love them freely 〈◊〉 my anger is turned away from them Hos 14. 〈◊〉 Behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I â—ll make a new covenant with the house of Israel 〈◊〉 with the house of Judah Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers wherâ— I tooke them by the hand to bring them out of thâ— land of AEgypt the which my Covenant they brake although I was an Husband unto them saith thâ— Lord. But this shall be the Covenant that I wiâ—â— make with the house of Israel After those dayâ— saith the Lord I will put my Law in their iâ— ward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people Fâ—â— I will forgive their iniquity and will remembâ—â— their sins no more Jer. 31.31 32 33 34. That old covenant that he made with theâ— was a covenant of workes and that covenanâ— they broke they were not able to keepe it bâ— now God hath made a new covenant with 〈◊〉 in Christ a better covenant than the other for God hath given Christ to us for a coâ—nant for him to undertake to make full satisfaction for our sinnes and to be a Mediâ—tor betwixt God and us There was
nothing in us that moved Goâ—â— to bestow his Sonne upon us to be crucisied fâ—â— us but it was his free love Herein is love 〈◊〉 that we loved God but that he loved us and seâ—â— his Son to be the propitiatin for our sins 1 Johâ— 4.10 Hereby perceive we the love of God becaâ—â— he laid downe his life for us 1 John 3.16 Aâ—â—â— while we were yet sinners Christ died for us eâ— when we were dead in sins Ephes 2.5 For so loved the world that hee gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved John 3.16 17. For I came not to judge the world but to save the world John 12.47 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay downe his life for his friend John 15.13 That is the greatest love that friends can shew one to another but Christ hath loved us with a greater love for while wee were his enemies he dyed for us to reconcile us to God and to make us his friend hee takes occasion by our sins to shew us merie The Lord complains of the spirituall Idolatry of his people in Hosea 2. which of all sins that is partly the greatest to forsake God and cleave to Idols and to give that to them that belongs only to God for they made their Idols their God gave honour and glory to them but the Lord saith I will not give my honour to another nor my glory to graven Images Hos 2.13 14. Shee decked her selfe with her ear-rings and her jewels and she followed her Lovers and forgate me saith the Lord. Therefore behold I will allure her and bring her into the wildernesse aad speake comfortably to her Hos 11.7 My people are bent to rebellion against me though they called them to the most High yet none at all would exalt him Yet this did not turne the love of the Lord from them for in the 8. and 9. verses he saith How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I delive thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim Mine heart is turned within me my repentings are rouled together I will not execute the fiercenesse of my wrath I will not return to destroy Ephraim for I am God and not man the holy One in the midst of thee Ezek 20.44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have respect unto you for my Names sake and not after your wicked wayes nor according to your corrupt workes O ye house of Israel saith thâ—â— Lord Isa 43.25 I even I am hee that putteth away thine iniquities for mine owne sake and wilâ— not remember thy sins Isa 44.22 I have put away thy transgressions like a cloud and thy sinner as a mist turn unto me for I have redeemed thee Jer. 33.8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me I will pardon all their iniquities wherby they have sinned against me and whereby they have transgressed against me Jer. 50.20 And in those dayes and at that time saith the Lord the iniquitieâ— of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and for the sinnes of Judah and they shall not be found for I will be mercifull unto them Here is the free mercie of God and riches of his love belonging to all man-kinde that ever was is or shall be there is not any one excluded from his love for there is nothing can keep us from God but our sins and that Christ hath dyed for and hath made full satisfaction to his Father and hath obtained of his Father a full pardon for all the sinne of all man-kinde although they be never so great 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chiefe He was a persecuter and a blasphemer and an injurious person yee saith he I obtained mercy The Lord is no respecter of persons He shed his dearest heart-blood for all sinners as well for the chiefe of sinners as any other for without blood-shedding there can be no remission of any one sinne though never so small in our apprehension but by the blood of Christ being shed for us the greatest sins are pardoned as well as any For the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all unrighteousnesse And this gift of God in giving his Sonne is a free gift of God given to all to redeeme all from sinne hell and the Devill Hes 13.9 O Israel one hath destroyed thee but in me is thy helpe The Devill having overcome man by his tempting the woman and they yielding to him wee were all destroyed by the Devill but in Christ is our helpe against him Jer. 31.11 The Lorâ— hath redeemed Jacob and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he All man-kinde fell by and in the fall of Adam from that glorious condition that thâ—â— were in before they sinned So we all fell froâ— that glorious condition with him into a staâ—â— of condemnation sin and the wrath of Goâ— both spirituall and temporall and hell anâ— damnation and as we all fell in Adam so we are all raised by and in Christ not to thaâ— condition that Adam fell from but from thaâ— condition that he fell into and as we all dyeâ— in Adam so wee are all made alive in Chriâ—â— Adam was a publique person for man-kind so was Christ therefore he is called the seconâ— Adam Therefore as by the offences of one which was Adam judgement came upon all men to câ—â— demnation even so by the righteousnesse of ouâ— which is Christ the free gift came upon all mâ—â— unto justification of life For as by one mans disâ—â— bedience many were made sinners so by the obeâ—â—ence of one shall many be made righteous Rom. â—â— 18 19. All were made sinnners in Adam so all aâ—â— made righteous by Christ Quest How are all made righteous 〈◊〉 Christ Answ He being made a publique person so all man-kinde he undertook to make full satisfaction for our sins which he did comit so he redeemed us from that condemnation that came upon all the world by the fall of Adam so that for those sinnes wee shall never be condemned Hee hath redeemed the whole world from the Devill and sin to himselfe that we should serve him in all love so the Devill and sinne cannot keepe the world out of heaven they can doe us no harme yea those that are very great sinnes cannot nothing but unbeliefe can keepe us out There was nothing that kept the children of Israel out of the Land of Canaan but unbeliefe We see they could not enter in because of unbeliefe Heb. 3.19 They had committed many sins and those that were very great ones and God complained of their sins in
eate this bread be shall live for ever and the bread thâ— I will give is my flesh which I will give for tâ—â— life of the world vers 50 51. And this breaâ— hee giveth to all freely And this is that thaâ— will feede and nourish your soules thereforâ— feede upon this and doe not spend your labour in vaine thinking to get a righteousneâ—â— of your owne which is not the righteousnesâ— of Jesus Christ that thou mightst feede upon that and be satisfied with it but that cannot satisfie thee if thou goest to feede upon it 〈◊〉 will choak thee but hearken diligently to me and eate that which is good and let your soule delight it selfe in his fatnesse What he hath donâ— for thee and what he hath obtained for thee and come unto me heare and your soul shal live So heare that yee really believe what Christ hath done for you and your soule shall live And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you â—ven the sure mercies of David For this is the Covenant that I will make with them After those dayes saith the Lord I will put my lawes into their hearts and I will be to them a God and â—hey shall be to mee a people And they shall not â—each every man his brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest For I will be mercifull to their unrighteousnesse and their sinnes and iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8.10 11 12. And it is a sure Covenant for it was established upon better promises than the old Covenant was and God is unchangeable I am God I change not therefore ye sonnes of Jacob are not consumed And the Spirit and the Bride sayes â—ome and let him that heareth say come and set him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Rev. 22.17 Wisedome hath builded her house she hath killed â—er beasts shee hath mingled her wine shee hath also furnished her table She hath sent forth her Maidens shee cryeth upon the highest places of the City Whose is simple let him turne in hither as for him that wanteth understanding she saith to him Come eate of my bread and drinke of the wine that I have mingled Prov. 9.1 2 3 4 5. This wisdome is Christ and it was he thâ— was killed for the sinnes of the world This the fatted Calfe that was killed Luke 15 2â— And the Lamb slain from the beginning of tâ—â— world Matth. 22. Behold I have prepared 〈◊〉 dinner my oxen and fatlings are killed and 〈◊〉 things are ready come unto the marriage It is Christ alone that hath prepared 〈◊〉 things for this spirituall marriage betwiâ—â— himselfe and his people There is nothing 〈◊〉 be done but all things are already preparâ— for this spirituall feast there is nothing fâ—â— us to doe but to come and eate and drink freely of those things that are prepared for us And hee sends forth his servants for to crye 〈◊〉 the highest places of the Citie and to crye 〈◊〉 loud Spare not lift up their voyce like a Truâ—â— pet Isa 58.1 That all may hear and come that those that are simple may learne true wiâ—dome of him CHAP. VI. How wee should come to Christ and have thâ— things that he hath prepared for all THere is no other way to come to Chriâ—â—â— but by believing what hee hath done foâ— them in particular and to apply it to themselves These things are written that ye might beâ—ieve that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and â—hat in believing ye might have life through his â—ame John 20.31 He that believeth in the Son â—f God hath the witnesse in himselfe he that belieâ—eth not God hath made him a lyar because hee â—elieved not the record that God witnessed of his â—on And this is the record that God hath given â—nto us eternall life and this life is in his Sonne He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath â—ot the Sonne hath not life These things have I written unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternall life and that ye may believe in the name of the Son â—f God 1 John 5.10 11 12 13. For God so loâ—ed the world that he gave his only begotten Son â—hat whosoever believeth in him should not perish â—ut have everlasting life John 3.16 And this is â—ife eternall that they know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John â—7 3 Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe â—n God believe also in me John 14.1 For I am â—ome a light into the world whosoever believeth in â—â—e shall not abide in darkenesse Joh. 12.40 And â—his is the worke of God that yee believe in him whom he hath sent John 6.29 Hee that belieâ—eth in me as saith the Scripture out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life John 7.38 He that believeth in me hath everlasting life Johâ— 6.47 And Jesus said unto them I am the breâ— of life he that commeth to me shall not hunger 〈◊〉 hee that believeth in me shall never thirst Aâ—â— this is the will of him that sent me that every 〈◊〉 which seeth the Son and believeth in him shoâ—â— have everlasting life and I will raise him up the last day John 6.35.40 He that doth believe Christ doth knoâ— Christ and doth know the Father also 〈◊〉 Christ and his Father are one and hee doâ—â— know that Christ hath pardoned his sins having made full satisfaction for them to his Father and that God is as well pleased with hiâ— in his Sonne as he is with his Son and doâ— not only believe this because it is in the Scripture but because the Spirit of God witnesseâ— it to them by the enjoyment of it though sometimes they have not the comfort of 〈◊〉 Believing and faith is all one and we are justâ—fied by faith and not by workes and therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the workes of the Law Rom. 3 2â— By the works of ehe law shall no flesh be justified 〈◊〉 his fight For by the Law cometh the knowledge of sin 〈◊〉 now is the righteousnesse of God made manifeâ—â— without the Law bearing witnesse of the Law anâ— the Prophets to wit the righteousnesse of God 〈◊〉 the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that beleeve for there is no difference for all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declate his righteousnesse by the forgivenesse of the sins that are passed through the patience of God Rom. 3.20 21 22 23 24 25. If Abraham were justified by works he hath wherein to rejoyce but not with God but what saith the Scripture Abraham beleeved God and it was counted
and it is the seede of darkenesse for there is no light in it for Christ is the light and out of him there is no light and this is that which opposeth Christ and is nothing but the greatest darkness that is for there is not any light in it and he infusing daily more and more of his darkdesse into us causeth the seede of himselfe to grow more and more by him and this seede cannot be dead long but it will quickly appeare and â—pring forth that it will be seene by others and bring forth fruit sutable to the seede and will grow by degrees to be a high tree in wickednesse and be full of evill fruit and though it be the seede of the Devill in us that causeth us to bring forth fruit to himselfe yet it is wâ— that must suffer for it for hee brings us to be willing to yeeld to him in all things and to be at his command and to do what he would have us to doe so his will becomes our will and wee are obedient to him and delight in his works of darknesse This is the grosse seâ—d of the Devill and we see it grow up in a high degree in some and would in a higher but that the Lord restraines them and it springâ— forth in some measure in all There are seven degrees to grow in perfection in God so there is also to grow in evill to be like the Devill in wickednesse and there is a comming to it by degrees some attaine to the first degree in God by the Spirit of God and some to the second and so goe along by degrees from one degree to another Some attaines to one degree and some to another by the revelation of the Spirit of God in us so the Devill immitates God for the wicked spirit working in us and we yeelding to it and delighting in it he brings us all from one degree to another some attaines to one degreâ— and some to another and so on to perfectioâ— in sin to our owne destruction For sinne whâ—â— it is finished brings forth death Rom. 6.23 But the Lord restraines most people that they doe not grow to that degree of sinne as they would else attaine unto and many attainâ—â— but to the first degree and lives a perfect morall life those that are the children of God he blasts this seed of the Devill in them by the seed of himselfe sowne in them Christ by his death did breake the head of the Serpent the Devill but not kill'd him he paid a full price for all sinnes and obtained things of his Father for all so that sinne cannot doe us any harme if wee have the faith of Jesus Christ in us for this will make us hate sinne it cannot keepe us out of heaven so he brake the Devils bead for the policie lyes in the head and it was the Devils policie to tempt man that hee might fall finally and never rise againe and so to destroy for ever all man-kind For God did say to Adam In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the death Gen. 2.17 And the Devill knew that there was no other way to destroy man-kind but that so being fallen the Lord did not restore him to that condition that he was in at the first being man was rebellious to God he must have afflictions he must live in sorrow and trouble here for sinne remaines still in our conversations in â—ll degrees while Christ by his Spirit in us doth sanctifie us and suppresse sinne in us by degrees That sinne shall not reigne in our mortâ—â— bodies because we are not under the Law which threatneth curses because we cannot keepe it but under grace Rom. 6.15 But still there remaines the seed of the Devill in us and is as bad as ever it was in it selfe and it doth appeare so in us so farre as it iâ— not kept under by the seede of God so hiâ— head is broke his policie is brought to nought for it is not that can destroy any of man-kind Numb 21.8 9. And the Lord said unto Moses make thee a fiery Serpent and set it up for a sigâ— that as many as are bitten may looke upon it aâ— live So Moses made a Serpent of brasse and sâ— it up for a signe and when a Serpent had bitten man then he looked to the Serpent of brasse aâ—â— lived This was a figure of Christ for wee wâ—â— stung with the Serpent the Devill and Chriâ—â— was crucified upon a tree for all and we are 〈◊〉 looke up to him with the eye of faith for he is that hath pull'd out this sting and lookâ—â— upon him we see our selves heal'd by him 〈◊〉 hath not destroyed the Serpent but he remaiâ— still but he cannot hurt the children of Goâ— for his sting is pulled out and it is for wanâ— looking on Christ that all are not cured 〈◊〉 this seed of the Serpent in us which the eâ—â—â— sowed in us through our listning to him in Adam is not destroyed wholly but supprest as the Canaanites and Amorites and Moabites and the rest of the Nations that kept possession of the Land of Canaan before the children of Israel went into that Land and God gave them possession of it But when the children of Israel had taken possession of the Land their enemies were not wholly destroyed but were supprest that they could not doe what they would against the children of Israel they were kept there for the humbling of the children of Israel and many times they rose up against the children of Israel to destroy them and by this was made known the love mercy and power of God in delivering the children of Israel from their intention against them and in destroying their enemies though not all of them yet supprest them all so as they could doe the children of Israel no harme and at all timer when they had got strength againe and rose up against them the Lord still kept them under and destroyed them by degrees yet still some did remaine but their power was taken from them that they could doe them no harm So it is with the seed of the Devill in us it rises many times against us to destroy us breaking forth into open sin in words and actions being back'd and moved to it with the Devills temptation but these enemies remaine in â—â—to humble us and to shew us the goodnesse 〈◊〉 God in suppressing them and destroying thâ—â— by degrees and taking that power from thâ—â— that they shall not hurt us but yee they shall not be utterly destroyed for if the Lord withdrawes his Spirit from us this seede will appeare with as vile fruits in us as ever and thâ— fruits that this seede brings forth in us are all manner of sinne and wickednesse and this is called the fruits of the flesh Gal. 5.19 Rom. 1. What fruits had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashames for the end of those things iâ— death Rom. 6.21 This is
the holy Ghost is our Comforter and the Angels are our guard to attend us And what can we desire more but 〈◊〉 have the Seale broke open to see what we haâ—â— in him and Christ is comming to doe it 〈◊〉 yet a very little while and he that shall come wiâ—â— come and will not tarry Heb. 10.37 Behold I come quickly Revel 3 11. And doe thou waâ—â— patiently for his comming CHAP. XIII Christ is the Teacher and Governour of his Church CHrist is a King a Priest and a Prophet A King to reigne over his Church spiritually and a Priest to offer spirituall sacrifice to his Father for his Church and a Prophet to teach them He saith My kingdome is not of this world John 18.36 But he is an immortall and an everlasting King 1 Tim. 1.17 He 〈◊〉 a spirituall King and it is a spirituall Kingdome that hee reignes over and the children â—f God are the heirs of this Kingdome Feare â—t little flocke for it is your Fathers will to give 〈◊〉 the Kingdome Luke 12.32 And the kingdome of God is eternall life Joh. 10.28 And 〈◊〉 give unto them eternall life and they shall never â—â—ish neither shall any pluck them out of my band And this is a hidden glorious and mysticall â—â—ing But to you it is given to know the secrets of the kingdome of heaven Mat. 13.11 And the â—ingdom of God comes not with observations Neiâ—â—er shall 〈◊〉 say loe here on loe there for behold â—he kingdome of God is with in you Lu. 17.20 21. â—ry not in thine heart Who shall ascend into heaâ—â—n That is to bring Christ from above Or who â—â—all descend into the deepe That is to bring up Christ againe from the dead But what saith the Scripture The word is neere thee even in thy â—â—uth and in thy heart this is the word of faith â—hich wee preach Rom. 10.6 7 8. And this â—ord is Christ John 1.14 What is heaven but the fulnesse of all happinesse and that is God in Christ and Christ â—â—ing in us by his Spirit then is the Kingdom â—f God in us and so far as he reveales himself to us as he is we see him as he is and have the enjoyment of him and so farre we live in â—im and have out conversation in heaven that is in God For the kingdome of God is not 〈◊〉 word but in power 1 Cor. 4.20 It confâ—â—â— not in speaking of words but so far as he â—â—veales himselfe in us he comes with power enabling us to do that which is pleasing to hiâ— and he reveales heaven to us here in some measure by degrees in his time as shall be to hâ—â— glory and our comfort and in a great aâ—â— high measure in some but wee cannot have 〈◊〉 in such a measure as we shall have it hereafâ—â—â— when our bodies are dissolved then wee shâ—â—â— be wholy in it there shall be nothing to hiâ—der us now here our bodies are weake anâ— cannot containe him and there is a vaile bâ—fore us that wee cannot see him clearely anâ— Christ is the Governour of the Church Isa â— 6 7. For unto us a Childe is borne and unto 〈◊〉 a Sonne is given and the government is upon 〈◊〉 shoulder and he shall call his name Wonderfullâ— Counseller the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace The encrease of his government and peace shall have no end hee shall sâ—â— upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdoâ— to order it and to stablish it with judgement 〈◊〉 with justice from hence-forth even for ever thâ— zeale of the Lord of hosts will performe this Hâ—â— is our husband and he reignes over us in loâ— and so he governs us and all his lawes that 〈◊〉 doth set forth for us to observe is to love him â—â—d so farre as hee doth reveale himselfe to us â—e can doe no other and he defends us against 〈◊〉 our spirituall enemies that rise up against 〈◊〉 and would devoure us And he hath made 〈◊〉 Kings with him 1 Pet. 2.9 Revel 5.10 〈◊〉 reigne with him for ever And hee is our â—â—iest to offer up spirituall sacrifice to his Faâ—â—er for us upon that golden Altar of himselfe 〈◊〉 8.3 And he makes intercession continuâ—â—ly to his Father for us 1 John 1.12 My â—â—es these things write I unto you that ye sinne 〈◊〉 and if any man sinne wee have an Advocate â—â—th the Father Jesus Christ the just and hee is 〈◊〉 reconciliation for our sins and not for ours onâ—â— but also for the sins of the whole world And â—â—e hath made uâ— Priests with him as wee are â—ints for his Spirit in us offers up continuall â—â—rifice to God by Christ of praises and â—â—anks-giving And he is our Prophet to teach 〈◊〉 We shall be all taught of God he will teach 〈◊〉 so plainly by his Spirit his owne minde in â—â—â—h a plain way that a wayfaring man though â—oole cannot erre therein The Lord said Write the vision and make it â—â—â—ne upon Tables that he may run that readeth 〈◊〉 Hab. 2.2 After those dayes saith the Lord 〈◊〉 will put my law in their inward parts and write 〈◊〉 their hearts and I will be their God and â—â—ey shall be my people And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man 〈◊〉 brother saying know the Lord for they shalâ— know me from the least of them to the greatestâ— them Jer. 31.33 34. The Lord will teach his children by his Spâ—rit in a more clearer manner than he haâ— done and so farre as he teacheth them thâ— shall all know him and hee shall teach us 〈◊〉 profit 1 Cor. 2.4 5. My speech and my preachâ—â— was not with enticing words of mans wisdome 〈◊〉 in demonstration of the Spirit and of power Tâ—â— your faith should not stand in the wisdome of 〈◊〉 but in the power of God When the Lord dâ—â—â— teach us by his Spirit that comes with poweâ— and over-powers us and makes us willing 〈◊〉 doe and be what hee would have us so 〈◊〉 power is made knowne in us That whiâ—â— Christ teacheth us to know is himselfe Ephâ— 4.21 If so be that ye have heard him and 〈◊〉 been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus thâ—â— we may know what he is in the Saints and 〈◊〉 the Saints Psal 65.8 I will heare what God 〈◊〉 Lord will speake for he will speak peace to his pâ—â—ple and to his Saints All that Christ doth teach us is to knoâ— himselfe and Paul desired to know nothing 〈◊〉 but Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 Anâ— he speakes nothing but what is in him for 〈◊〉 that all that is in him hee hath purchased 〈◊〉 us and hee hath purchased us unto himselfes and we are his Wife and he will always dwell with us and be in us and alwayes uphold us and never leave us nor forsake us CHAP. XIIII God is very tender and careful over those that are but babes in him and leades them as they
on him by â—â—th hee will give thee grace to walke in a â—â—w course of life and yet still they offer thee â—hrist upon condition and thou art exceeâ—â—ngly terrified with hearing mercies because â—ou dost not see they belong to thee because â—ou canst not believe Thus thou seest beloved what a spirituall â—â—ndage thou art in with sinne and the Devill â—â—d false Teachers like the children of Israel 〈◊〉 Aegypt what sore bon dage they were in 〈◊〉 temporall things so ar t thou now in spiâ—â—â—uall And thou knowest not what to doe â—â—â—t cry unto the Lord as they did and the â—ord sent them word that they should be â—â—ought out of the Land of Aegypt and that â—ondage to serve him in another Land so he will doe by thee thou art in such a spiritâ— bondage in this spirituall Aegypt that thâ—â— canst not serve the Lord here therefore 〈◊〉 Lord comes to bring thee out which he dâ—â— by declaring unto thee that this is not 〈◊〉 way of God and hee would not have 〈◊〉 walke in it nor heare these false Teacherâ—ny more for thou art more and more woâ—ded by them Oh thinkst thou to thy selfe will goe hear them that they call Independeâ—â— I see they grow exceedingly in grace and hâ—â—â— aboundance of joy and walke very comâ—â—â—tably with God and Paul bids us try all thinâ— So I will see whether they can tell me tidiâ—â— of my Beloved So when thou art thus a â—â—â—ing out of this spirituall Aegypt then conâ—spirtuall Pharaoh the Devill with his Armie â—â—ter thee of reproaches and scandals and â—tream displeasure of those that are of near â—â—lation to thee for thy going in these stranâ—â— wayes as they say calling thee Heretiqâ—â— and threatning thee that if thou wilt not leaâ— off these wayes they will never doe any thâ—â— for thee but will doe thus and thus again thee then thou art in aboundance of slaw feares and the red sea of persecution befoâ—â— thee If the Clergie could but get power 〈◊〉 the Magistrate which they have done the good will to get it in the meane timethey wpersecute you in words and raile on you in heir pulpits and call you Hereticks and say â—is pitty you should live you are the disturâ—ers of the peace and if they let you alone â—ou will be the ruine of the Kingdome And â—his they doe against thee because thou wilt â—ot heare them any more for thou art so â—ounded with their Sermons that thou canst â—â—ot heare them any longer Yet they tell thee â—hou must wait upon them till the Lord make â—nown his mind to them and it is a question whether ever he will make known his minde â—o them or no Mat. 23.13 But woe unto you â—cribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of heaven against men for ye neither goe â—â—your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring â—o goe in But they are blind leaders of the blinde â—nd both shall fall into the pits Thus thou seest what a streight thou art in â—etwixt Pharoah's Armie and the red Sea and â—hou cryest to the Lord as the children of Israâ—â— did and what did Moses say which was a â—ype of Christ Exod. 14.13 14. Moses said â—nto the people feare ye not stand still and see â—e salvation of the Lord the Lord shall fight for â—â—u and you shall hold your peace First I shall shew you that yet thou hast â—ot seen the salvation of the Lord. Secondly Thou must stand still and thou shalt see the salvation of the Lord for thee 1. I will not deny but that thou art 〈◊〉 child of God for that good seed spoken of Mat. 13. is sowne in thee which seed is 〈◊〉 Word in vers 19. of this Chapter and 〈◊〉 Word is Christ John 1. Which seede is Chriâ—â—â— Gal. 3.16 Know ye not that Christ is in you â—â—cept you be reprobates but I trust you shall knâ—â—â— you are not reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5 6. For Gâ—â—â— hath made knowne to thee that this seed is thee for thou findest that there is a new woâ—â— wrought in thee for now thou hatest sintâ— and hast a desire after goodnesse and it is thâ—â— seede in thee which makes thee so For whâ—â— thou wast in thy naturall condition thâ—â— hadst no such inclination to good thouâ—â— sometimes thou art ready to deny this throuâ—â— the Devills temptation and thy owne corruâ—tions But yet thou dost not know the true way Jesus Christ The Sonne of righteousnesse not risen in thee to lighten thee in his truth as the truth is in Jesus Christ saith I am 〈◊〉 way the truth and the life no man commeth the Father but by me John 14.6 And while the Lord doth come and lighten thee in 〈◊〉 wayes thou canst not find it out but thou a in the darke and one that is in the dark caâ—â— not doe any thing well and is ready to stuâ—â— â—e at all things and yet would faine doe â—omething Thus thou goest along in thy own strength 〈◊〉 perform duties but all thy duties and righousnesse is as filthy rags and that the Devill â—ill tell thee and he will overcome thee with is temptations for all thy righteousnesse This not a sufficient armour to stand against him 〈◊〉 will wound thee for all this For except â—â—ur righteousnesse exceeds the righteousnesse of the â—ribes and Pharisees you shall in no wise enter to the Kingdome of heaven Which as yet thou â—â—mmest short of that righteousnesse of the â—ribes and Pharisees for they were wonderâ—â—ll strict in their wayes for they lookt to be â—stified by the workes of the Law They did â—â—t know any other way therefore they walâ—d in that way they were in the dark and 〈◊〉 they worked according So it is with thee â—ou lookest to be justified by the works of the â—â—aw for thou seest no other way nor hast â—en taught any other way although in words â—â—th thou and they that taught thee are ready 〈◊〉 deny it But doe you not say that except ye do thus â—â—d thus God will not doe thus and thus for â—â—ou What is this but to be justified by your â—â—wne righteousnesse but thou dost as the â—â—ouse did in Cant. 3.1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soule loved I sought him bâ— I found him not What was this night but the time of hâ— darke condition and what is darknesse but want of light And in this night on her beâ— what was this bed A bed is to take their nâ— upon which was her owne performances a righteousnesse But she sought him but she câ—â—not find him upon her bed for thy bed is tâ— short for thee to stretch thy self upon tâ— covering too narrow to wrap thy self withaâ— before the Lord had shewed her the light his owne selfe to leade her where shee shou finde him Shee looked for him upon her bâ—â— of her owne performances but it is too shoâ—â— to reach to heaven and this covering of hâ—
way to life eternall but they continue refusing and loving their own darknesse better then the light or Jesus Christ and hate him in his waves and persecute him in his members and make a mock of godliness and thinke to get a righteousnesse of their own that shall carry them to heaven and so they undervalue the righteousnesse of Christ and tread under foote the Sonne of God and count the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified and unholy thing they doe not regard it but slight it and doe not really believe him And hee that doth not believe the Sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3.36 He that believeth not God hath made him a lyar because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Sonne 1 John 5.10 It is the free mercie and love of God thaâ— is offered to all it is that that shall condemâ—â—â— all those that continue alwayes in unbeliefe Christ came neare Jerusalem and wept oâ—â— it and said O Jerusalem Jerusalem that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent â—â—to thee how often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen doth gather her brood â—â—der wings and ye would not Luke 13.34 Mat. 23.37 And in Mat. 23.31 there we may sâ—â— what children these were that hee would haâ—â— gathered to him Ye be witnes unto your selvâ—â— that ye are the children of them that killed the Prophets and they commit the same sin as their Fathers did In the 34. and 35. verse of this chapter Behold I send unto you Prophets and wise men and Scribes and some of them yeâ— shall kill and crucifie and some of them shall yeâ— scourge in your Synagogues and persecute theâ— from Citie to Citie That upon you may come alâ—â— the righteous blood shed upon the earth from thâ— blood of righteous Abel unto the bloud of Zacharias sonne of Barachias whom ye slew between the Temple and the Alter These are the children that Christ would have gathered to him and his bowels of compassion yearns to them Hee wept over them to think what a miserable condition they were in and hee would have preserved them from it but they would not And thus hee offers himselfe still to all even the chiefest of sinners 2 Chron. 26.15 16. And the Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his messengers rising up betimes and sending because hee had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord rose against his people till there was no remedie Prov. 1.24 to the 31. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded But ye have set at nought all my counsell and would none of my reproofe I also will laugh at your calamity I will mocke when your feare commeth When your feare commeth as desolation and your destruction commeth as a whirle-winde when distresse and anguish commeth upon you Then shall they call upon mee but I will not answer they shall seeke me early but they shall not find me For that they hated knowledge and did not chuse the feare of the Lord. They would none of my counsell they despised all my reproofe Therefore shall they eate of the fruit of their owne way and be filled with their own deviecs Thus he strives with them till there is no remedie and then hee giveth them over And when they have thus hardned their own hearts that they refuse all instruction and shut their eyes that they will not see then God hardened their hearts as he did Pharaoh's Exod. 10.1 and blind their eyes Mat. 13.14 15. By hearing ye shall heare and not understand and seeing ye shall see and not perceive For this peoples heart is waxed grosse and their eares are duâ—â— of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes and heartâ— with their eares and should understand with their hearts and should be converted and I should heâ—â— them And therefore he spake to them in parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand Luke 8.10 Isa 6.9 Mark 4.12 God hath given them thâ—â— spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see anâ— eares that they should not heare Rom. 11.8 Sâ—â— the fault is in the creature and not in God for this good seede is sowne in all sorts of ground in good ground and in that which is stonie and that which is thorny and by the way side so it is sowed in all and the fault is not in the seede for the seede is all alike That seede is the word of God Luk. 8.11 which is sowne in all man-kind He that was the unprofitable servant had received a talent of his Lord as well as the profitable servants So God hath justified himself and left the world without excuse that they shall have nothing to say for themselves at the day of judgment and this is that that will be their greater condemnation Those mine enemies that would not that I bould reigne over them bring them and slay them â—efore my face Lu. 19.27 Not to have Christ â—eigne over them is that which condemnes â—hem CHAP. VIII How God doth compell those that are his children to come in to him GOd hath chosen and elected some before the world began to bee the children of God in Christ and to reveale himselfe unto â—hem and to give unto them eternall life â—aving predestinated us unto the adoption of â—hildren by Jesus Christ to himself according â—o the good pleasure of his will to the praise of â—he glory of his grace wherein he hath made â—s accepted in the beloved Eph. 1.5 6 According to the eternall purpose which he hath purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord Ephes 3.11 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his owne purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gosâ—â— 2 Tim. 1.9 10. God did not see any thing in us where to love us but he loves us in his Sonne freâ—â— for his Sonnes sake Christ hath obtained 〈◊〉 things of his Father both in heaven and earâ— for us and there is not any thing that 〈◊〉 keepe them from us and at the time appoiâ—ted of the Father they shall be revealed to 〈◊〉 But the heir as long as he is a childe differeth 〈◊〉 thing from a servant though hee he Lord of 〈◊〉 Gal. 4.1 Before we be called with that hoâ—â— call which is that new work wrought in 〈◊〉 which is alone the worke of the spirit to 〈◊〉 borne againe not of corruptible seede but of inâ—â—ruptible by the word of God which liveth and
hast given mee bee with mee where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst mee before the foundation of the world His love is so great to us that he must have us with him wheresoever he is so he carrieth us in his bosome upon his heart and he is gone into heaven and we are there with him though we see it not and we are glorified with him And the glory which thou hast given mee I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thoâ— hast loved me John 17.22 23. There is not any thing that Christ thinke too deare or too good for us hee bestows alâ—â— his excellent things upon us hee loves us 〈◊〉 dearly he cannot keep them from us His lovâ— to us passeth the love of women to their chilâ—dren yea the greatest love that they can beâ—â— to them Isa 49.15 16. Can a woman forgâ—â—â—ber sucking childe that she should not have 〈◊〉 passion on the sonne of her womb yea they 〈◊〉 forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I haâ—â— graven thee upon the palms of my hands and thy wayes are continually before me He would have us to take notice of his love Behold I have graven thee upon the palmes of my hands he hath done it and wee must behold it and take good notice of it it is done already it is not to be done by us but God saith I have done it And there is not any thing in us that can hinder his love to us I have loved you with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawne thee These are expressions of God to us that we are set upon his heart and arme and hand is to shew us how neare we are to him and hee would have us to know it therefore he comes himself and declares it to us by his Spirit Fear not for I am with thee be not affraid for I am thy God Isa 41.10 Man naturally is affraid of God and it is because of our sins and ever since Adam fell wee have beene affraid of him some affraid of his anger and some affraid of punishment Gen. 3.9 10. And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou And be said I heard thy voyce in the garden and I was affraid because I was naked and I hid my selfe The righteousnesse of God which Adam had before his fall did cloath him he saw no nakednesse he was not ashamed of the nakednesse of his bodie that was nothing he could see nothing but what was of God and he was cloathed with him and there was a sweete communion betweene God and him hee was not affraid of God and there was no cause of fearing any thing else for all things below God were under Adam they had no power to doe him any harm But after Adam fell his falling stripped him of the righteousnesse of God and so he became naked and then hee was affraid of God And thus by nature wee are naked and are affraid of God and it is our nakednesse that causeth our feare and makes us affraid of every thing below God as well as of God and there is not any covering that can cover our nakednesse and so take away the cause of our fear for Adam did what he could to hide his nakednesse Gen. 3 7. And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons They saw but some part of their nakednesse and so far as they saw it they made a covering to hide it and it was of the leaves of a fig-tree faire great leaves and that tree grew in the Garden of Eden where Adam was put and that was the best covering they could get yet they were affraid and hid themselves from God for all that covering This Garden of Eden was a type of the â—hurch of God which is the Spouse of Christ â—â—â—t 4.12 15. and chap. 5.1 6.2 And this Garden in the midst of it is the tree â—life which is Christ Rev. 2.7 To him that â—â—reommeth will I give to eate of the tree of life â—â—ich is in the midst of the Paradise of God Joel 〈◊〉 27. And ye shall know that I am in the midst Israel and that I am the Lord your God and â—e else and my people shall never be ashamed â—â—d he is that water of life that runneth in the â—idst of the garden Revel 22.1 Whosoever â—â—nketh of the water that I shall give him shall â—â—er thirst But the water that I shall give him â—â—ll be in him a well of water springing up into eâ—lasting life John 4.14 Jesus stood and cryâ—â— saying If any man thirst let him come unto 〈◊〉 and drinke He that believeth on me as the â—â—ipture saith out of his belly shall flow rivers of â—â—ing water John 7.37 38. And this is that â—â—e of life that whosoever eates thereof they â—all live for ever And this the Saints feed upâ—â— but Adam did not eate of this And out of 〈◊〉 ground made the Lord God to grow every tree 〈◊〉 is pleasant to the sight and good for food â—â—en 2.9 So in the garden the Church of God out 〈◊〉 the ground of the love of God for he is the â—ound of all our happinesse hee causeth to grow every tree that is pleasant to the eâ—â— and good for food which is a comfortaâ—â— enjoyment of all temporall things and gooâ—nesse hath a promise of all things in this 〈◊〉 for temporall things so far as it is for Goâ— glory and for our good and for things come which is spirituall but the trees of 〈◊〉 ward mercies doe grow by the high way◠〈◊〉 all sorts of people to eate of as well as the châ—â—dren of God But this is but by the way 〈◊〉 shew you that wee have the enjoyment of oâ—â— ward things by the enjoyment of spiritual 〈◊〉 in the garden of God so farre as Christ 〈◊〉 peareth in it it brings forth good fruits sâ—â—ble to him for hee is a Spirit and the frâ—â— that grow in this garden are spirituall and have not this fruit by nature for except 〈◊〉 are in the Vine we cannot bring forth frâ—â— sutable to God and we by nature are nakeâ— and we seeing our selves naked and knowâ— there is no appearing before God so we taâ—â— of the broadest and fairest leaves of the shew godlinesse that we can get and sew them handsomely together as wee can and coâ—â— that part that we see naked but there is a gâ—â— deale of our nakednesse that we doe not 〈◊〉 and that wee cannot cover yet God sees our nakednesse both that as we cover 〈◊〉 as we doe not cover When God doth appâ—â—◠〈◊〉 we are affraid of his seeing us
for all this â—â—â—ing but now Christ hath cloathed us â—â—th his righteousnesse Mat. 6.32 And this â—â—ghteousnesse is perfect and it doth exceede â—â—e righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees â—â—d that white raiment that thou maist be cloâ—â—ed and that the shame of thy nakednesse doe not â—â—peare Revel 3.18 And to her was granted â—â—t she should be arraied in fine linnen cleane and â—â—ite For the fine linnen is the righteousnesse 〈◊〉 the Saints Rev. 19.8 And white robes were â—en to every one of them Rv. 6.11 And being â—â—athed with this robe we have no cause to â—â—e affraid wee have free accesse to goe to God 〈◊〉 Christ all our sins that wee have commitâ—â—d hath been against God and Christ hath â—â—tisfied his Father for them all and therefore â—â—e justifieth us and hath nothing to say aâ—â—inst us Who shall lay any thing to the charge 〈◊〉 Gods elect It is God that justifieth Who is he â—â—at condemneth us It is Christ that dyed yea â—â—ther that is risen again who is at the right hand â—f God who also maketh intercession for us Who â—â—all separate us from the love of Christ shall triâ—â—lation or distresse or persecution or nakednesse 〈◊〉 famine or perill or sword Nay in all these â—hings wee are more than Conquerours through â—â—im that loved us For I am perswaded that neiâ—â—er death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to comâ—â— Nor heighth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of Gâ—â— which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8.33 34 35 37 38 39. There is not any that can separate us froâ— God in Christ our sins cannot doe it I eveâ—â— I am hee that blotteth out thy transgressions for 〈◊〉 owne sake and will not remember thy sins Isa 43.25 Thou art my servant O Israel thou shalt 〈◊〉 be forgotten of me I have blotted out as a thicâ—â— cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud thy sinnes returne unto me for I have redeemed thee Isa 44.21 22. Feare not For I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine When thou passest through the waters I will beâ— with thee and through riveâ—â— they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thâ—â— shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindlâ— upon thee For I am the Lord thy God the holy One of Israel thy Saviour Since thou hast beenâ— precious in my sight thou hast been honourable I have loved thee Feare not for I am with thee Isa 43.1 2 3 4 5. I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed for the Lord dwelleth iâ— Sion Joel 3.21 Fear not rejoyce and be glad for the Lord will doe great things Joel 2.21 Behold I will bring it health and cure and I will cure them and will reveale unto them abundance 〈◊〉 peace and truth Jerem. 33.6 I have seene his â—â—es and will heale him I will leade him also â—â—d restore comforts unto him Isa 57.18 And 〈◊〉 will sow her unto mee in the earth and I will â—â—e mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy 〈◊〉 I will say to them which were not my people 〈◊〉 art my people and they shall say thou art my 〈◊〉 Hos 2.23 It is the Lord that hath done all things for 〈◊〉 and in his time he doth make it known to 〈◊〉 that we may know his love to us and so to â—ake us love him and the Devill doth what â—e can to accuse God to us and tells us God 〈◊〉 angry with us to keepe us from him For if 〈◊〉 can but perswade us to keep from God he â—â—es not and he thinks that is the way for â—â—e knowes that if Christ comes to reigne in us â—â—ce his kingdome in us shall not stand So 〈◊〉 doth what he can to deceive us by his false â—â—les for this is the Tale-bearer that doth â—hat he can to part that friend-ship that is beâ—â—een God and us He is the false witnesse that â—eaketh lies and him that soweth discord aâ—â—ng brethren Prov. 6.19 Lay not waite O â—â—ked man against the dwelling of the righteâ—â— spoile not his resting place Prov. 24.15 God 〈◊〉 that resting place Heb. 3.18 There remaineth therefore a resting place 〈◊〉 the people of God For he that is entered into his rest he also hath ceased from his own-wakeâ— Heb. 4.9 10. And so farre as God doth mâ—nifest himselfe in us wee dwell in this restiâ—â— place and the Devill doth what hee can 〈◊〉 hinder us of it by telling us false tales but liâ—â—en not to him for he is a deceiver and a lyâ—â— from the beginning When he speaketh a lye 〈◊〉 speaketh of his owne for he is a lyar and the Fâ—ther of it John 8.44 And if he doth tell thâ— that God is angry and thou must do thus aâ—â— thus to pacifie him through thy obedience though he brings Scripture for what hee saitâ— as he did to Christ Matth. 4. yet believe hiâ— not Yea if any one deliver any other dâ—ctrine to us than that doctrine of Christ whicâ— is the setting forth of the love of God to us 〈◊〉 farre as it is not of God it is of the Devilâ— and hee is accursed And the Lord doth coâ—â— with power to destroy the workes of the Devilâ— 1 John 3.8 Thou art not onely set upon his heart foâ— him to love thee but upon his arme to defenâ— thee against thy spirituall enemies the Deviâ—â— and his Armie which is sinne and wickedness and our owne righteousnesse which doth peâ—secute this seede of God in us and hath doâ— the uttermost of his power to destroy it quite and this kingdome of heaven hath suffered violence by the Devill and this seede of God i◠〈◊〉 hath been kept under and as it were impriâ—â—d by the Devill and himselfe hath reigned 〈◊〉 with tyranny and cruelty that maketh â—o put up many prayers and teares and 〈◊〉 and groans to God for him to deliver us 〈◊〉 these prayers sighes and groanes of these â—â—soners hath entered into the eares of the â—â—d Exod. 3.7 8. Then the Lord said I have â—â—ly seen the trouble of my people which are in Aeâ—â— and have heard their crye because of their â—â—ke-masters for I know their sorrowes Thereâ—â— I am come downe to deliver them And our â—â—ow is greater than theirs for theirs was a â—â—poral bondage but ours is spiritual Behold 〈◊〉 Lord God will come with strong hand and his 〈◊〉 shall rule for him Behold his reward is with 〈◊〉 and his worke before him Isa 40.10 But 〈◊〉 Israel art my servant Jacob whom I have 〈◊〉 the seede of Abraham my friend Thou â—â—m I have taken from the ends of the earth â—â—ed thee from the chiefe men thereof and said 〈◊〉 thee Thou art my servant I have chosen thee 〈◊〉 not cast thee away Feare thou not for I am 〈◊〉 thee be not dismayed for I am thy God I 〈◊〉 strengthen thee
towe is broken when it feeleth the fire And then shâ—e tooke new ropes and bound him therewith that so the Philistines might destroy him him but he was so strong that they could not overcome him except hee were bound and there lay his enemies in wait to destroy him when they saw him bound but he brake the ropes from his arms like a threed Jud. 16.9 12. So doth Christ there is not any thing can bind him or hinder him from rising when his time is come Christ is called a fire â—ev 1.14 Heb. 12.29 It is the nature of fire to burn and consume all things that are not one with it so doth Christ to burn up that which hindereth us from seeing him and keepeth us from that sweete enjoyment of him which 〈◊〉 our sins and our righteousnesse so he comes with flames of fire to render vengeance on that 〈◊〉 us which knowes not but is an enemie to God and kept us from God but now Christ â—ill destroy these spirituall enemies hee will wallow them up in the victory of himself and â—urn up the drosse in us that keeps us from seeâ—â—g that pure gold so farre as he doth manifest â—imselfe in us he discovereth which is drosse â—nd which is gold for in thy light wee see light â—or we cannot discerne of our selves which is â—old which is the righteousnesse of Christ â—nd which is drosse which is our righteousâ—â—sse but so farre as Christ doth discover this â—â—osse to us he burns it up Christ is the founâ—ation whereon this spiritual building is built â—â—d all the building must be one and the same â—ith the foundation Now if any man build upon â—is foundation gold silver precious siones wood â—â—y stubble Every mans works shall be made maâ—ifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be â—â—ealed by fire and the fire shall trye every mans â—â—rke of what sort it is If any mans workes aâ—â—de which he hath built thereupon he shall receive a reward If any mans workes shall be burnt beâ— shall suffer losse but he himselfe shall be saved yeâ— so as by fire 1 Cor 3.11 12 13 14 15. When the day doth appeare then it beginâ— to be light and that light maketh manifest alâ— things and this is Christ and hee being likâ— fire he tries all the works of man yea thosâ— workes that are most excellent that appearâ— as glorious as gold and silver precious stoneâ— they must be tryed and all that is not purelâ— of Jesus Christ and wrought by his Spiriâ— shall be burnt up by him as well as hay anâ— stubble which is sinne and wickednesse Psalâ— 50.3 Our God shall come and shall not keepe sâ—lence a fire shâ—ll devoure before him and it shaâ— be very tempestuous round about him That theâ— our enemies shall not be able to stand againâ— him but he will destroy them by his coming so farre as he reveales himselfe in us for theâ— his enemies in us are now risen up against hiâ—â— to destroy him Isa 9.5 For every battle of tâ—â— Warriour is with confused noise and garments roâ—â—led in blood but this shall be with burning anâ— fewell of fire All the battles that the Devill comes againâ— Christ withall to overcome him is with confusion confuting and contradicting him that if wee were but able to discerne and taâ—â— notice of his weapons that he comes to destrâ—â—â— Christ withall would destroy himselfe but â—ll the Devils weapons are broken in pieces â—nd is fewell for this fire which is Christ and â—e will burne them up by degrees as he reveals â—imselfe in us and thus hee will destroy our â—pirituall enemies for us Mica 7.8 9 Rejoyce â—â—t against me O mine enemie When I fall I shall rise when I sit in darkenesse the Lord shall be a â—ight unto mee I will beare the indignation of the â—ord because I have sinned against him untill hee â—â—ead my cause and execute judgement for me he â—ill bring me forth to the light and I shall behold â—â—is righteousnesse Then shee that is mine enemie â—hall see it and shame shall cover her which said â—nto me Where is the Lord thy God mine eyes â—hall behold her now shall she be troden downe as the mire of the streets The Church of God is called a woman Rev. 12.1 and Anti-christ is called a womâ—n Revel 17.3 And when the Lord brings us forth to the light then wee shall see his righteousnesse then our adversary Anti-christ in the history and that is shee that doth outwardly oppose Christ and in the mystery which is our righteousnesse Christ will tread her under his foot Thus his arme shall save us from our enemies and destroy them for he is very tender over us that are his Spouse and beloved one And although wee are a great while oppressed with the Devill yet at the last Christ will come and make known to us how he hath overcome him for us Isa 27.1 2 3. In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish Leviathan the piercing Serpent even Leviathan that crooked Serpent and he shall slay the dragon that is in the Sea In that day sing ye unto her A vineyard of red wine I the Lord doe keepe it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keepe it night and day Which vine-yard is the Church of God and he keeps it as well in the night that is in our darke condition Hosea 11.3 I taught Ephraim also to goe taking them by the armes but they knew not that I healed them And I have led them but they knew it not And so he keeps it in that darke condition as well as in the day when he manifests himselfe to us so hee will open our eyes as we are Saints that we shall see the things that belongs to our peace Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened Isa 35.5 And the eyes of the blinde shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness Isa 29.18 So far as he revealeth himselfe to us we shall clearly see him and what he is to us when he opens our eyes and wee shall also heare him speak peace to us For the deafe eares shall be unstopped Isa 35.5 And in that day shall the deaf heare the words of that booke Isa 29.18 This â—ooke is that which is spoken of in Revel 5. â—nd I saw in the right band of him that sate on the â—hrone a booke written within and on the backeâ—â—de sealed with seven seales And I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loud voyce Who is worâ—â—y to open the booke and to loose the seales thereof And no man in heaven nor earth neither under the â—arth was able to open the booke neither to looke â—hereon Then the lion of the Tribe of Judah which â—as a Lamb that had been slain he was found â—orthy to open the booke ond to breake oâ—en the seales And hee came and tooke the booke â—â—t of the right hand
of him that sate upon the Throne This booke is the minde of God as in a booke a man may write his mind at large being of a great volume so for our weake capacity the minde of God is as it were writ in a booke being written within but on the backside sealed with seven seales that wee cannot what is written in it The vision is become unto you as the words of a booke that is sealed up which they deliver to one that cannot read saying Reade this I pray thee and he saith I â—â—nnot for it is sealed And the booke is given to him that cannot read saying Reade this I pray thee and he shall say I cannot read Isa 29.11 12. And the same booke was sent to Ezekiel Ezek. 2.9 10. Behold a hand was sent to me loe a roule of a booke was therein And he spread iâ— before me and there was written therein lamentations mourning and woe Isa 8.16 Bind up the testimonie seale up the law among my Disciples A testimonie is when a man dyeth he writeth down to whom he would have his estate dispos'd when and how so in this booke oâ— God is written the whole mind of God what he hath given us and when it shall be revealed to us and how yet it is bound up and sealed and none is found worthy to open the booke and loose the seale He that sate upon the Throne is God the Father and the book that was in his hand was the whole love and minde of God to all man-kinde in Christ Jesus And the seven seales doth set forth to us that the whole mind and love of God is alone known to himselfe and quite shut up and as it were sealed fast from us that as wee are men and women we cannot know any thing that is written therein In this booke there is written all things what Christ hath done for all and what for his Church in particular what he hath obtained for us and what wee are in him what hee hath made us to the Father in him and what he is in us And it is Christ alone that hath obtained of his Father â—o open this booke and to loose the seals for â—e was the Lambe that was slaine for all and â—y his death hee hath obtained power of his â—ather to open the booke and make knowne â—o us his whole mind There are seven seales â—o be broke open and hee doth not breake oâ—en all the seales at once but by degrees and as he breakes open a seale he saith Come and â—â—e Rev. 6.1 That is wee must see our selves in Christ before we can see any thing of the mind of God made known to us and he it is that doth make knowne to us that wee are in him and the first seale that he breaks open to us are some manifestations of his love to us and by degrees he breaks open the seales to us hee doth make knowne his love and minde to us more and more in a more fuller clearer and glorious manner every seale breaking open are new manifestations every seale more glorious clearer fuller than the other that was broke open before And in this booke is written lamentation mourning and woe to Antichrist for her destruction and ruine is come more and more As Christ breakes open the seales and reveales himselfe to us hee gives us that hearing eare his Spirit that we may hear those things which he hath unsealed to us The Lord God hath opened mine eare and I was not rebellious neither turned away backe He wakeneth mine eare to heare as the learned Isa 50.4 5. Thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions hearken to thy voyce cause mee to heare it Cant. 8.13 And when wee come to heare the love of God to us then we shall see this messenger of the Spirit of God casting the stumbling blockes out of the way and making known to us in some measure the great love of the Lord to us and so making way for a further manifestation of himselfe to us in a fuller higher and more glorious manner for as the seales are broke open so is Anti christ more and more discovered and destroyed by the bright comming of Jesus Christ for there is a seven-fold purifying of this seede of God in us from the seede of the Devill before it can appeare to us in the purity of it and that is as the seales are broke open to us and hee appeares very glorious at the breaking open of any of the seales much more glorious will he appear to us when all the seales are broke open when we shall perfectly fully and clearly see and know Christ as hee is to us for when they are all broke open then there the perfection of Christ is made known to us for seven is perfection CHAP. XV. How the LORD leades his people by faith THe Lord doth shew his people that which yet they have not the enjoyment of and 〈◊〉 is in a high and glorious manner and they â—â—e not able to expresse what it is but by faith 〈◊〉 some measure they see what it is that they â—â—all enjoy and in the meane while they walke 〈◊〉 faith and not by fight Heb. 11.1 Now faith 〈◊〉 the substance of things hoped for the evidence of â—â—ings not seene And so by faith we must wait â—atiently for a further manifestation of himself â—n us in a more glorious and clearer manner â—or if we hope for that we see not then do we with â—â—tience waite for it Rom. 8.15 We must not â—e like Thomas believe no more than we see or â—njoy but Christ said Blessed are they that â—ive not seene and yet believe John 20.29 Aâ—raham desired to see my day and he saw it and â—as glad He saw by faith the glorious days of Christ the mysteries of the kingdome of God â—ath beene hidden from us but now hee will â—ake them manifest to his Saints to whom God would make knowne what is the riches of this mysterie among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1.26 27. Christ manifested in the flesh is a great mysterie his first comming was in flesh visible to all that all might see him Then hee went away as concerning his flesh and came in Spirit to us I will not leave you comfortlesse but I will come unto you John 14.18 And he saith I send my Spirit unto you John 16.7 If any man love me he will keepe my word and my Father will love him and wee will come unto him and make our abode with him John 14.23 So Christ will not only come unto us but hee is in us already and he will make it manifest that he is come in our flesh by his Spirit for hee and his Spirit are all one and where Christ is there is the Father Know ye not that the Father is in the Sonne and the Sonne in the Father And at that time ye shall know that I am in my Father
Independents nor the Independents despise the Presbytery and those that are neither of them let them not despise either of them for those that are the children of God what form soever they are in there is the seed of God in them though it be covered with a great deal of drosse that the seed of God doth little appear yet that which is of God is pure wheresoever it is though Anti-christ appeareth more in â—hem than Christ and seduceth them and â—hey cannot see it while Christ doth break oâ—en his seales to us and as hee breakes open a â—â—al to us then we come to see more light then â—e see what grosse ways of Anti-christ we have â—een in then we come out of that forme into â—nother that more seeming glorious forme â—han the other that we were in before but Anâ—i-christ will reign in us in this form as well as in the other that we were in appearing more glorious to us then hee did before and when the Lord comes and breaks open another seale to us and brings us up higher to himselfe and â—hews us more light than we saw before then wee see what a darke way wee were in before then wee come out of that forme into another forme more glorious than the other even the most purest and glorious form that we can find in all the Scripture Thus the Lord brings us from one thing to another from Papacie to Presbytery from Presbytery to Independency and the Lord is in every one of these formes to his people while hee brings them out of it and Sathan also doth transforme himselfe to an Angel of light and will be in that form to you for now you are out of an Anti-christian way and thinke your selves safe but you may hug and embrace Anti-christ in the mystery when you hate him speak against him in the history and the more glorious form you are in the more secure you thinke your selves and are ready to say let us here build Tabernacles And beloved wee make goodly Images to our selves the more glorious our forme is the more glorious images we make and the more liker God the more dangerous for that which is not purely of God so far as it is not of God it is of Anti-christ and we make an image of it and that which is like Christ for Anti-christ doth appeare in us like Christ we doe not know him from Christ therefore let not any of us despise each other or undervalue one another for Anti-christ doth tyrannize over us all some in one way and some in another and hee it is that causeth us to despise and undervalue one another for that which is of God is loving and kind to all and meeke and milde and causeth us to forgive one another and forbeare one another and overcome one another with love When Christ comes and breaks open another seal to you then you will see that yet you are in the darke for that light which now you have is a great light to that which you saw before but it is but darknesse to that light which shall appeare to you and then hee will shew you that a great deale of that in you which you thought was spirit will appeare to be but flesh which is of Anti-christ CHAP. XVII How God brings his Church into the wildernesse THere is a spirituall wildernesse that Christ brings his Saints into before hee giveth them a full possession of Canaan that is that glorious inheritance which is Christ A wildernesse is a barren place he will strippe us of all our excellent things so far as it is not purely of himselfe hee will come with the North-winde and nip and deaden and blast all our most excellent performances that wee shall have nothing to trust to but see our selves in a barren condition like a wilderness The church of God hath been in the wildernesse ever since Anti-christ began to reigne and Anti-christ is that which is like Christ yet opposeth Christ and it began in the Apostles dayes for no sooner is there any thing of Christ made known but the Devill will transforme himselfe as like it as may be and labour to set up his way in us and opposeth the way of Jesus Christ For every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Anti-christ whereof you have heard that it should come and even now already it is in the world 1 John 4.3 Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Anti-christ shall come even now there are many Anti-christs whereby wee know that it is the last times 1 John 2.18 That which doth deny Christ any other ways in the history or in the mysterie in what manner soever it be so farre as wee hold any thing that is not the pure truth of Christ so farre as it is not truth it is of Anti-christ though it appeare never so glorious and it is said that there are many Anti-christs because hee appeareth in many wayes to us but he did not reigne in the Apostles time so as he hath done since for the Gospel was then purely preached but Christ told his Disciples what things should come to passe Mat. 24.15 When yee therefore shall see the abhomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the holy place whoso readeth let him understand When the Lord openeth our eyes that wee see it before us and in us then wee come to read and understand that the abhomination of Anti-christ being set up makes the truth of Jesus Christ desolate for that light that shined in the Apostles dayes hath beene quite put out and the Church hath been led in a very darke way for the minde of God hath beene sealed up with seven seales and all the time that the booke is sealed up the Church is in the wildernesse and there shee hath a place prepared of God and there she should be fed a thousand two hundred and threescore days Rev. 1.26 And this was the time of the two Witnesses prophesying And I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes cloathed in sack-cloath Rev. 11.3 God hath some alwayes to speake forth his pure truth in some measure and they that speake forth the things of Christ are the witnesses of Christ and they prophesie in sacke-cloath which signe of sorrow and mourning when there is but little manifestation of Jesus Christ then we are kept under by Anti-christ both outward and inward and then is the time of mourning Can the children of the bride-chamber fast while the Bride-groom is with them but when the Bride-groom is taken from them in those dayes shall they fast And when they fasted they used to be cloathed in sack-cloath which doth appeare that the time of the Church being in the wildernesse having then but small appearance of the Bride-groom to them then is
laying them clearly open by the appearance of himselfe in us and as he breaks open the seals to us there are great earth-quakes Heb. 12.26 27. Yet once more I shake not only the earth but also heaven And this word yet once more signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made that those things which cannot be shaken may remaine The Lord when hee appeareth in us doth not only make the earth quake at his presence which is all things that doth appeare to us to be below God whatsoever it be but also heavenly things all glorious things which are of Anti-christ which is like heaven and doth appeare to us to be heaven but this shall be shaken by the appearing of Jesus Christ in us and those things that cannot be shaken which are of Jesus Christ they shall remaine but all things that are not of him shall fall and shall appeare to us to be but earth or flesh as bad as the kilel of the flesh grosse sinne and wickednesse I doe not meane the flesh of our bodies nor this earth that we dwell upon but there are two kinds of seeds of the Devil in us that grosse seed which bringeth forth sinne in us is called earth the first man was of the earth earthly as is the earthly such are they that are earthly That which is not of God is said to be of Satan which is called earth and so farre as we have this earthly seed appearing in us so far we are of the earth earthly then there is that seeming glorious seed of himselfe in us which is our righteousnesse and that seemes to be like the wayes of God and therefore it is called heaven but it is but of the earth and is earthly this is called the first man the second man is Christ and he is heavenly 1 Cor. 15. The first man is of the earth â—arthly the second man is the Lord from heaâ—en as is the earthly such are they that are â—arthly and as is the heavenly such are they â—lso that are heavenly and as we have borne the image of the earthly we shall also bear the â—mage of the heavenly Now this I say brethren â—hat flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdome â—f God neither doth corruption inherit incorruption That which is of Satan which is called â—lesh and blood and earth and corruption â—hall not inherit the Kingdome of God for this â—shmael shall not be heir with Isaac so at the â—ppearing of God in us there will be a great â—arth-quake when the mountaine of the Lord which is Christ comes to be established atop of the mountaines of Anti-christ For thou â—ast said in thy heart I will ascend into heaven 〈◊〉 will exalt my throne above the Stars of God I will sit upon the mount of the Congregation I will â—scend above the heights of the clouds I will be â—ike the most High Isa 14.13 14. The voyce â—f my beloved behold he commeth leaping upon the â—ountains and skipping upon the hills Cant. 2.8 Whether the hils or mountaines though they â—e never so high that is not of himself whatâ—oever it be in us whether high or great sinnes â—r our righteousnesse hee will tread them all under his feete and triumph over them all and this mount makes the whole earth filenâ— before him both outward and inward and make them quake Revel 6.12 13 14. And 〈◊〉 beheld when he had opened the sixth seale and loâ—â— there was a great earth-quake and the Sunne became blacke as a sacke-cloath of haire and thâ— Moone became as blood And the starres of heaven fell unto the earth even as a figge-tree casteth heâ— untimely figges when she is shaken of a mighty winde And the Heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together and every mountaine and Island were moved out of their places Mat. 24.29 Immediately after those dayes shalâ— the Sun be darkened and the Moon shall not givâ— her light and the stars shall fall from heaven the powers of heaven shall be shall be shaken And then shall appeare the signe of the Sonne of man is heaven and then shall all the Tribes of the eartâ— mourne and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory Here is speaking of Christs comming to judgement The comming of Christ to judgement is both outward and inward spirituallâ— in the mystery and at the opening of the sixtâ—â— seale here is the first resurrection for after thâ— Sunne is darkned and the Moone not give heâ— light then shall Christ appeare in his glory iâ— us he is come to this spirituall judgement iâ— us and by his glorious appearance he makes the Sun to appeare as black as a sack-cloath of haire and the Moone to be like blood But while the first Heaven is departed away his glory doth not appear in us for the first heaven hinders us from seeing the glory of Christ the Sun is that whereby we see for that is light it selfe and giveth light to us and by that light that we receceive from the Sun we see the Sun and that light that the Moone hath she receiveth it from the Sun it is the same light infused into the Moon but it doth not appeare so glorious as the Sun for the Sun is the fulnesse of light and the Moon partakes of it all but is not able to containe it all but is filled with the light and glory of it and the starres have that light that they shine withall from the Sun and is the same with the Moone and they give a bright cleare and glorious light yet not so full and great a light as the Moone doth for they are not able to contain it and this typifieth out to us Christ and his Church and every particular Saint for Christ is the Sunne and the Church the Moone and the Saints the Starres Now where the Church of God is there is also the church of Anti-christ and the light that shee hath is infused after the same manner and all in us and both these lye together that as we are men and women we doe not know one light from the other but when Christ doth appeare to us in his pure light then the light of the sun of Anti-christ in us will appear as blacke as sack-cloath of hair and that moone the Church of Anti-christ will appeare like blood being a bloody persecuter of the Church of God and the starres of Anti-christ will also fall for being that sun is darkened whereby the starres receiveth their light they must fall and that heavenly and glorious appearance of Anti-christ shall depart as a scroll when it is rolled together And then every mountain and Island shall be moved out of their places for now is the day of the Lord come to render vengeance on all things in us that knowes not God Now is the time of the destruction of Anti-christ come and he is not able to stand against
it for by the manifestation of the appearance of Jesus Christ revealing himselfe in his glory by his Spirit doth destroy Anti-christ for by the preaching of the Gospel this City Babylon doth fall When the Spirit of God doth teach us to know what the Gospel of Christ is to us and in us this doth come with power and doth overthrow Anti-christ in us and the outward preaching of the Word alone will not doe it but the spirit working with it doth doe it and the Lord is well pleased to make use of the outward preaching of the word to work upon us by his Spirit commonly but he is not bound to one way hee workes upon us by his Spirit with meanes or without means or against meanes yet it is one spirit that doth worke upon us sutable to the Word hee would not have us under value the outward preaching of the Gospel nor yet idolize it Revel 8.1 2. And after these things I saw another Angel come downe from heaven having great power the earth was lightned with his glory And he cryed mightily with a strong voyce saying Babylon the great is fallen is become the habitation of Devils and the hold of every foule spirit and a cage of every uncleane and hatefull bird All manner of unclean things hath lodged in her but we did not see it but now the Lord will shew us it Reward her even as she hath rewarded you double unto her double according to her workes In the cup which shee hath filled fill to her double How much she hath glorified her selfe and lived deliciously so much torment and sorrow give her For shee saith in her heart I sit a Queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow therefore shall her plagues come in one day death and mourning and famine And shee shall he utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord God that judgeth her Revel 18.6 7 8. He doth double the cup of his wrath and indignation against her and doth destroy her and burne her up with the fire of himselfe we cannot doe it but he is strong and able to doâ— it and doth doe it for us and the fruits that thy soule lusted after are departed from thee and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee and thou shalt findâ— them no more at all Rev. 18.14 And a mighty Angel tooke up a stone like a great mil-stone and cast it into the Sea saying thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be throwne downe and shall be found no more at all And the voyce oâ— harpers and musicians of pipers and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee and nâ— Crafts-man of whatsoever Craft shall be found no more in thee and the found of a mil-stone shall be heard no more at all in thee And the light of 〈◊〉 candle shall shine no more at all in thee and thâ— voyce of the Bride-groome and of the Bride shall be heard no more at all in thee for thy Merchants were the great men of the Earth for by thy forceries were all Nations deceived And in her to 〈◊〉 found the blood of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slaine upon the earth Rev. 18.21 22 23 24. Here is an utter destruction of her and this is that vaile that keepeth us from seeing the glory of Christ for he that keepeth from him is a vaile or if wee see him but darkely it is because the vail is not quite done away There was a vail before the Tabernacle which is called the holyest of all In which Tabernacle were all the glorious and excellent things Heb. 〈◊〉 .3 4. And thou shalt make a vaile of blue â—urple and scarlet and fine twined linnen of tunâ—ing worke with Cherubims shall it be made And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of Shiâ—tim â—ood overlaid with gold their bookes shall be of â—old upon the sockets of silver And thou shalt â—ong up the vaile under the tackes that thou maist â—ring in thither within the vaile the Arke of the Testimonie And the vail shall divide unto you betweene the holy places and the most holy Exod. â—6 31 32 33 34. There was three places in this Tabernacle first the Priests went alwayes into the first Taâ—ernacle accomplishing the service of God â—ut into the second went the High Priest alone â—nce every yeare not without blood which â—e offered for himselfe and for the errours of â—he people The holy Ghost thus signifying â—hat the holyest of all was not yet made maniâ—â—st Heb. 9.6 7 8. For that glorious vaile â—oth hide it quite from us Luke 23.45 The Sun was darkened and the vaile of the Temple was â—â—nt in the midst Mat. 27.51 And behold the vaile of the Temple was rent in taine from the top to â—he bottome and the earth did quake and the â—ockes rent Christ by his death did rend the vail that doth keepe us from the seeing of him Moses after he had seen and talked with God he appeared so glorious that the people could not looke upon him and then he put a vail over his face Moses was a type of Christ and hee had a vaile over him that they could not see him which were types and shadowes and through that vaile they saw Christ darkely 2 Cor. 3.11 12 13 14. Seeing we have such hope we use great plainesse of speech And not as Moses which put a vaile over his face that the children of Israel could not stedfastly looke to the end of that which is abolished But their minds were blinded for untill this day remaineth the same vaile untaken away in the reading of the old Testament which vaile is done away in Christ But even unto this day when Moses is read the vaile is upon their hearts Neverthelesse when it shall turne to the Lord the vaile shall be taken away Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty When the Lord doth open the seales to us and comes with power in us by his Spirit then hee turnes us to himselfe and shewes us by degrees that this vaile that hinders us from seeing him is taken away by him and so by degrees we shall see him as he is and then we shall seee what bondage we were in to sin and Satan and our owne selves and how wee are set at liberty by Christ John 8.36 If the Sonne therefore shall make you free yee shall bee free indeed Isa 25.7.8 And destroy in this mountaine in the face of the covering cast over all people and the vaile that is spread over all Nations He will swallow death in victory 1 Cor. 15.54 This death and this vaile is one and the same for both of them keeps us from seeing life which is Christ For while we live to our selves and to our righteteousnesse so far we are dead to Christ Now as he manifests himselfe in us he swallows up this death and
wee shall see our selves live in his life and dead to that life that wee did live to our selves Thus the Lord will strip us of all our excellent things bringing us into the wildernesse and shewing us that all our works are burnt up so far as they are of us but that which is of God in us is not burnt up but is purged from our drosse and will appeare very glorious and will make us silent for we shall have nothing to boast of but confesse that it is Christ in us which is that glory then we shal â—e that he is no respecter of persons for whatsoever he be whether he be a strict Jew as the Jewes were very strict as ye may see by Paul before his conversion Or a Gentile one that makes no shew of godliness but lives very loosâ—y as those Gentiles did which are spoken of â—n Rom. 1. yet when Christ reveales himself to them they shall finde that his love is the same to them as to them that have been most strictest When the Lord of the Vine-yard sent labourers into his Vine-yard he sent some at the first hour and some at the third hour and some at the sixth hour some at the eleventh hour and when hee came to pay them hee began with him that went in last and he had as much given him as he that went in first Mat. 20. Those that are but young Saints that have been but lately brought into Christ the Lord doth many times reveal himselfe in a very glorious manner to them before he doth to them that have laboured in the Lords Vineyard a great while and have had the seede of God appearing in them a great while Mat. 29.30 But many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first That we may know that God is no respecter of persons for wee are all one body and his love is as great to one member as to another Ephes 4.4 5 6. There is one body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling One Lord one faith one Baptisme One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Col. 3.11 Christ is all and in all the Saints CHAP. XVIII How glorious the glory of Christ will appeare in his Church when he bringeth them out of the Wildernesse VVHen Christ hath stripped his Church off of all her goodly things then she hath nothing to trust too but on Christ Isa 2. Then the lofty lookes of man shall be humbled and the baughtinesse of men shall be bowed downe and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day For the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty and upon every one that is lifted up and hee shall bee brought low and the Idols hee shall utterly abolish And they shall goe into the holes of the rockes and into the â—aves of the Earth for feare of the Lord and for the glory of his Majestie when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth In that a man shall cast his Idols of silver and his Idols of god which they made every one for himselfe to worship to the Moles and to the Bats Hosea 14.8 Ephraim â—â—all say what have I to doe any more with Idols Isa 31.7 For in that day every man shall â—ast away his Idols of silver and his Idols of gold which your owne hands have made for a sinne When this day of the Lord is come to us then wee shall be willing to cast them away because the Lord shewes us the odiousnesse of them by the glory of himselfe revealed in us but before this day is come to us we had rather part from any thing than part from them But when he comes to give a full possession of himself then wee are willing to part from all thinge that are not of himselfe but hee doth not reveale all his glory to us at once but revealeth himselfe to us by degrees as wee are able to beare and containe him And as hee shewes himselfe to us so hee shewes us Antichrist and his destruction for the more incomes wee have of Christ the more of selfe and Satan doth appeare to us and is destroyed more and more by this fire of Christ For hee doth baptize us with the holy Ghost and fire Mat. 5. Acts 2. Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burnings Isa 33.14 This fire of the Spirit of God never goes out but is always burning up that in us that is contrary to it selfe that there may be all the drosse burnt up And this fire is in Sion and his fornace in Jerusalem Isa 31.9 which is the Church of God Who is this that commeth up from the wildernesse leaning upon her Beloved Cant. 8.5 The Spouse of Christ seeâ— all other things faile her and she leaneth now wholly upon her Beloved shee is of her selfe like a barren wildernesse but now hee will cause the fuiâ—ts of his Spirit to appeare to grow and flourish in her The Wildernesse and the solitary place shall bee glad for them and the desart shall rejoyce and blossome as a rose It shall blossome abundantly and rejoyce even with joy and singing the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it the excellency of Carmel and Sharon they shall see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God Isa 35.12 The Spirit shall be powred upon us from on high and the Wildernesse be a fruitfull field and the fruitfull field bee counted for a Forrest Then judgment shall dwell in the wildernesse and righteousnesse remaine in the fruitfull field And the worke of righteousnesse shall be peace and the effect of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places and none shall make her affraid Isa 32.15 16 17 18. Now is the time come for us to see that the marriage day is come when he doth come and manifest himselfe in us in a glorious way to tell us what he is to us and in us and what wee are in him and to him when hee thus comes to us that day is the marriage day to us Rev. 19.7 8 9. Let us be glad rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife hath made her selfe ready And to her was granted that shee should be arraied in fine linnen cleane and white for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saints And he said unto me write blessed are they that are called to the marrioge supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me These are the true sayings of God Rev. 20.9 10 11. And there came unto mee one of the seven Angels and talked with me and said unto me Come hither and I will shew thee the Bride the Lambes Wife And hee carried mee away in the Spirit to a great and
high mountaine and shewed mee that great Citie the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God having the glory of God And her light was like unto a stone most precious even like a Jasper stone clear as chrystall The Bride of Christ is the Church of God and it is descended out of Heaven from God for it is one with him for it is the Spirit of God in all the children of God that is this body the Church The Bride and this descendeth from God into us yet it is not parted from him but is in him and this is cloathed with the glory of God This is that righteousnesse of the Saints and her light is the light of Christ and that light is the clearest and purest and most precious and glorious light that can be I will appeare glorious in thee Isa 49.3 Awake awake put on thy Strength O Sion put on thy beautifull garments O Jerusalem the holy Citie for hence-forth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the uncleane Shake thy selfe from the dust arise and sit downe O Jerusalem loose thy selfe from the bands of thy necke O captive daughter of Sion Isa 52.1 2. Shee was in a sleepy drousie condition so long as shee sate in the dust of that earth of Anti-christ and was a captive in his band But now our Beloved is come hee calls unto us to awake and to put on strength The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be affraid Psalm 27.1 Psalm 28.7 Hee hath cloathed us with his strength And this is that beautifull garment Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee For behold the darkenesss shall cover the earth and grosse darkenesse the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seene upon thee Isa 60.1 2. And the glory that thou hast given me I have given them John 17.22 The Spouse of Christ being cloathed with the glory of Christ shee is all glorious The Kings daughter is all glorious within Wee are the King of heavens daughters for wee are married to Christ and God the Father is our Father and wee are all glorious within It is the Spirit of God in us that is so glorious and this is a spirituall glory it cannot be seene outwardly by others they may hear us speake forth something of this glory in us but none sees it nor knowes it but those that have it Revel 2.17 To him that overcommeth will I give to eate of the hidden Manna and I will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving him that hath it This Manna is Christ and he is hid from the world but as wee are Saints wee see it and feede upon it for it is that which wee live by and this stone is Christ 1 Pet. 2.6 And this is a very precious stone and here is a new name written in this stone that none doth know it but hee that hath it And that which is written in it is the manifestation of the exceeding riches of the love and mercy of God and all his glory and excellency which hee hath given us as we are Saints Christ doth set forth the beauty and comlinesse and glory of his Church having his beauty and comelinesse and glory on her Cant. 4. Cant. 7. Thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse thou hast ravished my heart with one of thy eyes with one chain of thy necke How faire is thy love my Sister my Spouse how much better is thy love than wine and the smell of thy oyntments than all spices Thy lips O my Love drop as the honey-combe honey and milke are under thy tongue and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon This oyntment that our Beloved is so taken with the smell of is the anoynting of the holy Ghost 1 John 2.27 The anointing which yee have received of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you all things and is truth and is no lye and even as he hath taught you ye shall abide in him The Priests and Kings used to be anoynted with oyle and it was a type of Christ hee was that King and Priest that was anoynted with the holy Ghost Psalm 45.6 7. Thy throne O God is for ever and ever the scepter of thy kingdome is ascepter of righteousnesse Thou lovest righteousnesse and hatest wickednesse because God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse above thy fellowes And this is like that precious oyntment upon the head that runneth upon the beard even unto Aarons beard which wet downe on the border of his garments Psal 133.2 This oyntment of the Spirit of God is all of it poured upon this Priest Christ which is the head of the Church and it runs off from him down upon all the Saints and this ointment of the Spirit of God makes our garments smell so sweete which is that Wedding garment Mat. 22.12 which is the righteousnesse of the Saints Revel 19.8 And being filled with this Spirit causeth our lips to speake or drop forth sweet heavenly glorious things more sweeter to the soule than the honey and honey-comb is to the pallet The Spouse of Christ is exceeding glorious in every respect being in Christ she is perfect in him I in them and they in me that they may be made perfect in one John 17.23 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us John 17.21 Put on charity which is the bond of perfectnesse Coloss 3.14 which is Christ And where hee is there is perfection Col. 1.27 28. To whom God would â—ake knowne what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in â—ou the hope of glory Whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdome that wee may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus We are perfect in Christ as wee are Saints and are the Church of God for this Spirit of Christ in us is perfect but as wee are men and women we are not perfect for we are naturall and not spirituall and as we are naturall we cannot discern the things of God neither can we doe them 1 Cor. 2.14 But it is this Spirit of God in us that doth all and if hee withdraw his Spirit from us we shall runne into all sin if he doth not restraine us for our bodies are the same as they were before the Spirit of God appeared in us and by his reigning in us he suppresseth destroyeth and burneth up by degrees as he revealeth himself in us all things that are contrary to him and hee brings our wills into subjection to his for wee are led by his Spirit and being filled with his Spirit wee are made drunke as it were with it
and â—e drinks of it and this wine is the fruit of this â—ine Christ and whosoever hee giveth this â—ine too to drinke of it it goeth downe very sweetly and causeth the lips of them that are asleep to speak before Christ appeareth in us we are asleep as the Spouse was Cant. 5.2 in a dead an drowsie condition but now we shall be roused up and speak forth the praise of our beloved Cant. 8.2 I would cause thee to drinke of spiced wine of the juice of the pomegranates This is the fruit that groweth in this garden and it is for our beloved to feast himselfe upon and he saith I have eaten drank and do take great delight in this feast because thou art with me and do you eate and drinke abundantly with me for it is my delight to have you feasted for they are prepared for you and this feast is our love feast for it is our marriage feast and it is my love that you are to feed upon and doe not spare but eate and drinke abundantly of it and be drunke with it for there is more love yet behind than you can see and it is all for you and this love will make you fruitfull for by the love of God to us we bring forth fruits to God This will make us that we shal be neither barren nor unfruitfull here is the Church of God in the glory of Christ and married to Christ and is one with God in Christ and fits in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephes 2.6 And is feasted with Christ Jesus and he is feasted with her and she appeareth glorious in his glory CHAP. XX. A new Song sung unto God WHen we come to see what God hath done for us in Christ Jesus how hee hath destroyed this Babylon in us and hath bound Satan and swallowed up the vaile that hindered us from seeing him and we come to see him and see what we are in him and how wee are marryed to him There will be much joy and rejoycing for the destruction of our spirituall enemie for joy of the marriage of the Lamb and the Saints The finger of God will play upon the wel-stringed instrument of musâ—que which is the Spirit of God in us playing heavenly tunes and new songs that we never sung before For first there is a rejoycing for the manifestation of the love of God to us in Christ He hath made us Kings Priests to God and his Father and we shall reigne with him for ever And I heard a great voyce out of heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shall be with them and be their God And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more paine for the former things are passed away Rev. 21.3 4. The cause of our crying and mourning either for spirituall or for outward things is because we doe not clearely see God what he is to us and that all that he doth to us is in love and that hee will have his owne time to bring to passe his own will in his owne way both spirituall and temporall for the glory of his Name and for our good when we come to be really sensible of this then wee shall see that wee have no cause of mourning then shall our teares be wiped from our eyes Rejoyce ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her rejoyce for joy with her all yee that mourne for her Isa 66.10 For behold I create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind But be you glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing her people a joy And I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voyce of crying Isa 65.17 18 19. And the Lord will cause righteousnesse and praise to spring forth before all the Nations and I will direct their work in truth I will make 〈◊〉 everlasting Covenant with them And their seed shall he known among the Gentiles and their off-spring among the people All that see them shall acknowledg them that they are the seede which the Lord hath blessed I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soul shall be joyfull in my God for be hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation hee hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse as a Bride-groom decketh himselfe with ornaments as a Bride adorneth her self with jewels everlasting joy shall be unto them Isa 61. As there are new manifestations of God in us so there will be new songs of joy and rejoycing in the Lord. And I heard a voyce from heaven as the voyce of many waters and as the voyce of a great thunder and I heard the voyce of harpers harping with their harps And they sang as it were a new song before the Throne and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth Rev. 14.2 3. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his marke and over the number of his name stand on the sea of glasse having the harps of God And they sung the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying great and marvellous are thy workes Lord God Almighty Just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Who shall not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou only art holy for all Nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest Revel 15.2 3 4. This sea of glasse is Christ and none can stand upon him but the Saints for it is too slippery for any other to stand upon it for they will fall and this fire that is mingled with this glasse will burn them up but here the Saints stand with joy singing a new song and rejoycing in the Lord exceedingly the joy is beyond expression none can know it but they that have the enjoyment of it to see and know that Christ hath overcome and destroyed all our spirituall enemies in us for he hath thrown down Babylon in us And after these things I heard a great voyce of much people in heaven saying Allelujah salvation and glory and honour and power be unto the Lord our God For true and righteous are his judgments for he hath judged the great Whore which did corrupt the Earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand And again they said Allelujah and her smoak rose up for ever and ever And the four and twenty Elders and the four beasts fell downe and